Skip to content
Summer tire Summer Touring tires Updated September 2026

Kenda Emera A1 review

The Kenda Emera A1 is widely regarded as a high-value budget tire that frequently outperforms expectations, often drawing favorable comparisons to premium brands like Dunlop, Continental, and Bridgestone. While most users praise its grip, comfort, and longevity, a minority of reviewers report concerns regarding high-speed stability and braking performance.

Relative score
67/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
76/100
8 reviews
Road tests
69/100
2 published tests
Kenda Emera A1
Scores

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

By owner reviews

76%
Would buy again 78%
Dry
Overall dry
79%
Corner stability
85%
Dry traction
100%
Steering response
95%
Wet
Overall wet
73%
Wet traction
90%
Comfort
Overall comfort
85%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
66%
Handling
Overall handling
74%

By road tests

68.7%
Dry
91.5%
Wet
87.5%
Comfort
2%
Noise
48.8%
By discipline (% of best in test)
Dry Braking
93.1%
Dry Handling
25%
Wet Braking
75.9%
Wet Handling
75%
Straight Aquaplaning
85%
Inside Noise level
60%
Subjective Comfort
30%
Rolling Resistance
20%
Price
25%
Wear
10%
From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 8 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

The Kenda Emera A1 is widely regarded as a high-value budget tire that frequently outperforms expectations, often drawing favorable comparisons to premium brands like Dunlop, Continental, and Bridgestone. While most users praise its grip, comfort, and longevity, a minority of reviewers report concerns regarding high-speed stability and braking performance.

Pros

  • Exceptional value for money compared to premium tire brands
  • Strong dry grip and confident cornering performance
  • Impressive ride comfort and low noise levels
  • Good tread longevity even under spirited driving conditions

Cons

  • Potential instability or braking difficulty at high speeds (above 130km/h)
  • Reduced road feedback compared to performance-oriented premium tires
  • Inconsistent user experience regarding overall quality expectations

Worth knowing

  • Users with performance-oriented sedans like the Jaguar XF report successful transitions from premium brands to the Emera A1.
  • Drivers with lowered vehicles and aggressive camber settings noted significantly improved tread life compared to previous tire brands.
Test results

2 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2019 Auto Bild Summer tire Test · 225/45 R17

19th of 20
Best: Dry Braking · 3rd Weakest: Wear · 19th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking8th of 20
Wet Handling6th of 20
Dry Braking3rd of 20
Dry Handling16th of 20
Rolling Resistance17th of 20
Straight Aqua4th of 20
Subj. Comfort15th of 20
Noise10th of 20
Value16th of 20
Price3rd of 20
Wear19th of 20
Total Cost of Ownership16th of 20

2019 Summer 53 tire Braking Shootout · 225/45 R17

7th of 45
Best: Dry Braking · 3rd Weakest: Wet Braking · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking8th of 45
Dry Braking3rd of 45